Picture Books.

by CALDECOTT, Randolph.

$1,372 · Offered by Biblio

London: George Routledge,, [c.1878-85]. Collected and finely bound A finely bound run of Caldecott's successful and long-running series. Starting with John Gilpin and The House that Jack Built (1878), the Picture Books took advantage of colour lithography, which could now be used for mass-printing. Formerly a banker, Caldecott (1846-1886) was launched on his career as an artist with the publication of his work in Henry Blackburn's (1830-1897) London Society magazine. He founded his reputation with two illustrated editions of Washington Irving just before launching the Picture Books. Caldecott was a pioneer of the gift book market and children's book design, and the artists he inspired include such celebrated names as Van Gogh, Beatrix Potter, Arthur Rackham, and E. H. Shepard. Provenance: Stephen C. Massey. 18 vols in 2, quarto and oblong quarto (225 x 200 mm ; 233 x 200 mm). Illustrated throughout in colour. Near-contemporary dark blue calf by Rivière, spines with red and brown morocco labels, compartments elaborately gilt, French fillet to boards with corner rosettes, front boards lettered in gilt, gilt inner dentelles, marbled edges, top edges gilt. Joints repaired, wrappers slightly soiled in places, contents toned, repair to a few outer margins: very good.

• Year: 1878
• Binding: hardcover

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